Congratulations to Crawford Park Bowls Club, based in Monkseaton, North Tyneside, who have won a national Club of the Year award. Using our Bowls Buddies equipment their family fun day attracted over 120 children. They have also fundraised to improve disabled facilities and they are an integral part of their local community.

Well done to all at the club and keep up the good work!

There was a great article in this week’s Sunday Express about the great strides being made to get schoolchildren playing bowls – and there was mention of our partnership with the Bowls Development Alliance in helping to promote bowls to schools. The article is reproduced below.

CHILDREN are playing lawn bowls at school following a drive to attract younger recruits to a sport more often associated with older players.

The link-up between the Youth Sport Trust and the Bowls Development Alliance has seen nearly 3,000 pupils play the game after teachers were shown how to use their existing PE equipment in place of traditional lawn bowls kit.

Jon Hart, of the Bowls Development Alliance, said:
“We have developed a set of Bowls Game Cards for primary and secondary schools. These allow teachers to deliver bowls-style activity using existing equipment such as tennis balls, bean bags and cones, removing barriers around cost and access, making it easy to get started.”

The sport has also pushed a “Bowls Bash” format in schools which acts as a quicker, high scoring one-hour version of a standard three-hour game.

Mr Hart said: “It is a quicker, more dynamic version of the sport, with varied scoring and a format that can be delivered within a one-hour session, making it well suited to the school environment.”

Now a partnership has been agreed with Bowls Buddies to bring soft bowls equipment to schools which allows them to move from general PE kit to a more accurate version of the game. Mr Hart said: “The bowls replicate the behaviour of traditional bowls but can be safely used on hard indoor surfaces such as school halls and leisure centres, as well as at clubs.”

The national push across all formats of the game is already being mirrored on the ground. Beacon Academy, in the West Midlands, became the first school in the country to set up its own bowling green in 2023, with the Beacon Bowling Club. More than 500 of its pupils have since used the facility, along with children from other schools across the Lighthouse Multi Academy Trust. The club is now affiliated with the British Crown Green Bowling Association and has registered a team to compete in a local league against clubs across the region.

Edward, who is in Year 6, said: “I absolutely love it.” Fellow pupil Roman, also in Year 6, added: “I now play crown green bowls and I am a registered player.” Jay Holdcroft, the Lighthouse Trust subject expert for PE, said: “We are extremely proud of how the scheme has developed. Beacon Bowling Club stands as a shining example of how the sport’s school drive is not only boosting participation numbers nationally but also bringing together schools, families and the wider community.”

We’re thrilled to be able to share the news of our new strategic partnership with the Bowls Development Alliance.

Together, we’re bringing bowls into schools across England, creating fun, inclusive, and engaging opportunities for thousands of young people to try our sport. 🏆✨

This collaboration will provide schools with innovative equipment, activity kits, and resources to inspire the next generation of bowlers, all while supporting confidence, wellbeing, and a love for physical activity.

Read the full press release on the link here (also reproduced below) 👉

https://bowlsdevelopmentalliance.com/2026/01/02/bda-bowlsbuddies-partnership/

Bowls Development Alliance and Bowls Buddies LLP Announce Strategic Partnership to Inspire the Next Generation of Young Bowlers

The Bowls Development Alliance (BDA) is delighted to announce a new partnership with Bowls Buddies LLP, bringing together shared ambitions to grow the sport of bowls in schools across England. This collaboration will support and enhance delivery within the Youth Sport Trust (YST) framework and the School Games network, enabling thousands of young people to experience bowls in a fun, accessible, and engaging way.

Research from the Youth Sport Trust shows that 71% of young people want to be more active at school, yet only 36% currently take part in sport or physical activity beyond PE on three or more days per week, highlighting the need for more inclusive and accessible opportunities. Enjoyment-led activities such as bowls can help engage pupils who are less attracted to traditional competitive sports, supporting confidence, wellbeing and a stronger sense of belonging.

The partnership unites the leadership and development expertise of the BDA with the creativity and innovation of Bowls Buddies LLP. Together, the aim is to create a sustainable pathway that introduces bowls to children at an early age while supporting schools, teachers, and School Games Organisers with high-quality resources and guidance.

Bowls Buddies’ revolutionary equipment and activity kits, already used by more than 500 clubs, schools, and community groups worldwide, will form a key part of the offer. Their specially designed, lightweight, and colourful products make bowls instantly accessible to young people, encouraging participation, skill development, and confidence in a safe environment.

Lisa Graham, Managing Director of the BDA, said:
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Bowls Buddies. Their innovative approach perfectly complements our vision for broadening the reach of bowls within schools. This collaboration will significantly strengthen our ability to inspire more children to discover our sport and enjoy all the physical, social and wellbeing benefits it provides.”

Steve Clamp, Co-Founder of Bowls Buddies LLP, added:
“This partnership represents a fantastic opportunity to take bowls to the heart of school sport. Working with the BDA, the Youth Sport Trust and School Games Organisers, we look forward to giving even more young people the chance to try bowls in a way that is fun, inclusive and easy for teachers to deliver.”

Ian Gill, Co-Founder of Bowls Buddies LLP, also commented:
“When we set out with the Bowls Buddies concept, our aim was to introduce our products to schools across the country. Through this exciting partnership, that ambition has become a reality. When children try bowls for the first time, they love the sport and the challenges it provides, and we are excited to see how this can help build a new generation of players.”

Through coordinated programmes, shared expertise, and a commitment to innovation, the partnership will provide schools with a high-quality offer that aligns with national school sport priorities. Both the Bowls Development Alliance and Bowls Buddies LLP believe this collaboration marks an exciting step forward for the sport and for the development of future generations of bowlers.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Bowls Development Alliance – Schooldevelopment@bowlsdevelopmentalliance.com
Bowls Buddies LLP – Bowlsbuddies@gmail.com

Bowls Buddies feature on the latest episode of the leading bowls ‘Wrong Bias’ podcast, with Ian & Steve being interviewed by the wonderful double act of David Bolt and Ritchie Mckie. Listen in to hear all about Bowls Buddies and our views on junior bowls. Also hear the best ways to get young people into bowls at your club and how you can work with local schools. The podcast can be listened to on most platforms including YouTube.

Bowls Buddies have now become VAT registered and, as a result, we have had to alter our pricing. However, we have tried to keep our prices as low as possible to provide you with the best possible value for money.

The website has now been updated with our new prices, which are all shown including VAT.

In addition, we have now launched 4 new ‘School Kits’ to provide a greater variety of options for our customers, so why not have a browse and see what we have got to offer?

We’re growing — and becoming VAT registered!!!

It’s a big milestone for our small but mighty team, made possible by your support and belief in what we do. From 1st December, our prices will have to change and will all be altered to include VAT — but our commitment to value, service, and support stays exactly the same. 

All orders placed, and paid for, prior to 1st December will be done without any additional VAT costs. All new prices and updated Order Form will be published on our website on 1st December.

This change reflects our continued growth and commitment to providing high-quality services, innovative products and reliable support for the entire bowls community.

Thank you for being part of our journey — we simply couldn’t do it without you!!!

The Philip Wright Crown Green Bowling Academy, in partnership with the local Schools’ Games Organiser, have been carrying out a massive schools’ programme in East Lancashire utilising Bowls Buddies equipment. It has involved over 500 pupils from 14 primary schools, as well as our very own Steve Clamp, who is the Academy’s Development Officer. The Academy’s work stands as a model of how innovation, passion, and partnership can reinvigorate a sport and ensure its future.

Perhaps most excitingly, bowls is now formally recognised as part of the School Sport Games offer, supported by the Youth Sport Trust. This means that schools across the country can now include bowls as part of their sporting curriculum and inter-school competitions.

The Bowls Development Alliance (BDA), the national body supporting the sport’s growth, has played a vital role in this progress — providing resources, guidance, and connections that make it easier for schools and Clubs to work together. For those looking to find out how to get started or replicate the success of the Colne project, more information can be found on the Bowls Development Alliance website .

A Case Study of the project can be viewed/downloaded below.

Bring colour, fun and precision to your bowling practice with our improved brand-new Bowls Buddies Target Mats – the ultimate way to sharpen your skills and brighten up your green! The designs are similar but we have improved the material to make them easier to store and use.

Made from tough 600D Oxford Twill Micro Fabric, these mats are built to last and feature vibrant sublimation printing for unbeatable colour and detail. They’re fully machine washable (30°C), so you can keep them looking as fresh as the day you bought them, and each one comes in its own bespoke storage pouch for easy carrying and storage.

Available in four fantastic designs and two practical sizes:

• Bullseye Target Mat – 120cm x 120cm or 200cm x 200cm
• Square Target Mat – 120cm x 120cm or 200cm x 200cm
• Hexagon Target Mat – 120cm x 120cm or 200cm x 200cm
• The Cliffhanger – 120cm x 240cm

Perfect for coaching sessions, competitions, or fun practice games, Bowls Buddies Target Mats are a must-have for bowlers of all levels.
Buy them individually or as part of our popular Target Mat Bundles – and make every session a target-hitting success! Just order via our website.

Bowls Buddies was delighted to be able to help out at Old Town Bowling Club’s open day last Saturday. The Club is located in a lovely setting up on the hills above Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire and has great facilities in the adjacent Village Hall. They run regular Saturday morning sessions for beginners.

Both old and young turned up and had fun with both the traditional bowls and the Bowls Buddies equipment. Young Mateo should make a cracking bowler one day!